Usually. Like everyone else, I have my days where I hate my skin or wish I could gain a few pounds.. I'm trying to learn to get over it. Of course, when my hair looks frizzy.... then that's a whole different story. No one will ever be gorgeous to every one. I try to remind myself of that.

Generally, I think I'm pretty. There are some days, especially when I'm dressed up, when I look in the mirror and think, "Damn! I look good!" And then there are some days, especially when I am PMSing, when I look in the mirror and groan.

how can I feel pretty when everywhere I look, I am bombarded with images of beautiful people?? I feel pretty brutal most of the time, and then I feel guilty that I waste so much energy on thinking about my appearance when there are so many people out there with real problems.

I truly am below average looking. I've been told MANY, MANY, MANY times that I was the ugliest person that they have ever seen...and have been teased mercilessly as an adult in college and in the workplace. It is not that I'm fat, or have horrendoes acne, or have bad hair, or dress bad. I don't even have a big nose or any real noticeable bad feature. Basically, the whole picture just doesn't work.

This isn't something in my head, or a self-esteem issue. I really am one of those handfuls of people who are scary ugly. I'm TRYING to learn to deal with the implications of this, and it is VERY hard. I never dreamed that my looks would affect my life so much. I just have to learn to let go of the bitterness and realize that it is not my fault and that there is a lot more to me than just the surface.

I've been told MANY, MANY, MANY times that I was the ugliest person that they have ever seen...and have been teased mercilessly as an adult in college and in the workplace.

Originally Posted by slinky1

I truly don't understand how people can be so cruel. I can't fathom why anyone would tell someone that she was the ugliest person they'd ever seen, or tease her mercilessly about her looks. That kind of cruelty is true ugliness that goes so much deeper than the surface. I'm sorry that you've had to endure that kind of cruelty, slinky1, and I am glad that you see that there is a lot more to yourself than the surface.

I live in an area with a high concentration of nyc suburb transplants, and I think that is where most of the snobbery comes from. I guess a lot of them can't help it because it is part of their "culture" and how they were raised. Where I grew up, people weren't nearly as bad.

I checked out your photos and couldn't see the body shots, but you DO have a very pretty face. I think we are all our own worst critics.

I have good days and bad. I don't "think" I'm all that. I guess its from years of being with men who don't know how to hand out compliments, but my neighbor actually told me yesterday that I was the hottest woman he's ever laid eyes on. He's my new best friend. Watch out hubby.. I do get complimented fairly often, but I think it's the hair. You know how awesome looking us curlies are!

Hell no! I've never thought I was pretty. I've had people tell me and other's tell people I know that I'm just not attractive. It used to bother me a lot but I accept my ugliness, hell I even call myself ugly. On a good day I can look nice but it takes hard work and those days in my opinion are few and far between. I like my body pretty much I just wish I had a better looking face.

Yes, God may have had a sense of humor when he made me, but at least he gave me a sense of humor too. I try not to let my looks get me down and at least I know my friends love me for me, not cause of how I look.

I went with um sure...My mom used to work for March of Dimes when I was a kid, so I got to see some children who were horribly disfigured - it breaks my heart. I am no supermodel, but I am also not disfigured - it could definately be worse.

Better everyone think your a fool, than to open your mouth and prove them right.

I truly am below average looking. I've been told MANY, MANY, MANY times that I was the ugliest person that they have ever seen...and have been teased mercilessly as an adult in college and in the workplace. It is not that I'm fat, or have horrendoes acne, or have bad hair, or dress bad. I don't even have a big nose or any real noticeable bad feature. Basically, the whole picture just doesn't work.

This isn't something in my head, or a self-esteem issue. I really am one of those handfuls of people who are scary ugly. I'm TRYING to learn to deal with the implications of this, and it is VERY hard. I never dreamed that my looks would affect my life so much. I just have to learn to let go of the bitterness and realize that it is not my fault and that there is a lot more to me than just the surface.

Originally Posted by slinky1

Teased as an adult???? In the workplace????
How very upsetting for you. I am so sorry. What do you say to them?
That is very cruel and you don't deserve that.

I thought I was a hideous troll when I was younger. In college and after, I slowly came to realize that was not true. I will never be classically "pretty" but I think I can look striking and damn good sometimes.

I kind of regret not cluing in sooner. I look back at pictures of myself in HS and college and my body was pretty darn smokin' but I thought I was a hideous troll and spent way too much time hiding in big black punk rock T-shirts. I'm still in decent shape, but the years, the baby and the gravity have taken their toll.

Overall I am happy with my appearance. I have learned not to measure myself against what I am not and will never be, and also learned how to appreciate and make the most of what I do have.

To Trenell, MizKerri and geeky:
I pray none of you ever has to live in a communist state.

Geeky is my hero. She's the true badass. The badass who doesn't even need to be a badass. There aren't enough O's in cool to describe her.

You wouldn't look twice and you wouldn't look away...how's that But don't let me catch ya looking cause if I know ya I'll give you a smile has you staring at my big brown eyes. of course if I don't know you I'll probably freeze up with shyness of catching a gaze together

Absolutly! But, like alot of people, it's taken awhile to get to this point. I hated the way I looked in high school, and whenever I was asked out I actually thought it was a joke. People would give me compliments and I always thought there was an alterier motive. I look back at the pictures now and wonder what I was on....I was pretty dam cute! I've really grown into myself in the last couple of years, and love who I am and how I look. I think I'm very classic pretty, definatly not super model type. I'm totally comfortable going out in jeans and a sweat shirt with no make up and still think I look great. But dam, when I get "done up", I can't not check myself out in the mirror! I'm sure that sounds really conceited or shallow, but it took alot to see that in myself and I'm really proud of that

I believe in manicures. I believe in overdressing. I believe in primping at leisure and wearing lipstick. I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles.
Audrey Hepburn

I live in an area with a high concentration of nyc suburb transplants, and I think that is where most of the snobbery comes from. I guess a lot of them can't help it because it is part of their "culture" and how they were raised. Where I grew up, people weren't nearly as bad.

Originally Posted by slinky1

What is that comment supposed to mean? Where do you get people from NYC were raised this way??? I sure as hell was not.

You wouldn't look twice and you wouldn't look away...how's that But don't let me catch ya looking cause if I know ya I'll give you a smile has you staring at my big brown eyes. of course if I don't know you I'll probably freeze up with shyness of catching a gaze together

I live in an area with a high concentration of nyc suburb transplants, and I think that is where most of the snobbery comes from. I guess a lot of them can't help it because it is part of their "culture" and how they were raised. Where I grew up, people weren't nearly as bad.

Originally Posted by slinky1

What is that comment supposed to mean? Where do you get people from NYC were raised this way??? I sure as hell was not.

Originally Posted by DeCurlo

I was going to ask the same thing? Really, people in NYC may be considered rude to some, but mean, I really don't think so. Is it that they're snobby?

If you got nothing to bring to the table - don't even bother sitting down.